Irish Times editor facing jail

The editor of the Irish Times, Geraldine Kennedy, and the paper's public affairs correspondent, Colm Keena, were today ordered by the Dublin high court to reveal the identity of a confidential source. They were warned that they could be found in contempt if they fail to comply with the order, meaning they could be sent to jail.

The three judges ruled that the pair must answer questions about the source of an article published in September 2006, which revealed that the Mahon tribunal was investigating financial payments to the prime minister Bertie Ahern. Both journalists have previously refused to reveal their source to the tribunal.

Kennedy said she was disappointed by the decision but maintained that the story was in the public interest. She also said there was no question of giving up the source, pointing out that the protection of confidential sources was of vital importance to all journalists.

Kennedy said she would be consulting with legal advisers over the next few days. "Nobody would say they would willingly want to go to jail," she said. "But I stand firmly over the view that protection of sources is a core principle of journalism."

She said she accepted the court's criticism of her actions in destroying the documents sent to the newspaper that led to the story on Ahern's finances. "I can understand their perspective. My perspective was that we had an important story which we wanted to publish in the public interest," she said.

Keena echoed her view, saying that they had an obligation to protect their sources. Both journalists were supported by the National Union of Journalists' Irish secretary, Seamus Dooley, who said the case has "serious implications" for journalism. He said: "We commend Ms Geraldine Kennedy, Mr Colm Keena and the Irish Times for the strong stand taken in this case." (Via Irish Times)